Thermally Driven Environmental Control Unit

ABSTRACT

The present invention regards a thermally driven, environmental control unit including, in a closed fluid-flow, non-pressurized circuit, a mixing heat exchanger, a heat recovery unit, a fractionator/evaporator, and one or more condensers. The system is designed to include at least one solute and a solvent, selected so that the mixture of each solute and the solvent produce an enthalpy change of between about 5 to 30 kJ/mol for cooling and −10 to −200 kJ/mol for heating. A plurality of pumps are integrated into the system to move the solute and the solvent, and a mixture thereof, among the various components of the present invention. The unit further includes a liquid loop coupled with the mixing heat exchanger and an air handler to provide warm or cool supply air. The present invention further regards a process for cooling or heating air using enthalpy change of solution associated with the dissolution of a solute in a solvent, at relatively constant atmospheric pressure, and separation of the solute from the solvent for re-use in the process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention regards a system and a process for efficient refrigeration and/or heating that is capable of using multiple sources of thermal energy, including waste heat, renewable thermal energy, and fuel combustion. Specifically, the system and process of the present invention uses the principle of heat of solution, wherein the heat of solution is the enthalpy change of solution (ΔH_(sol)) associated with the dissolution of a solute in a solvent, at relatively constant atmospheric pressure. The solute is then separated from the solvent, and the process repeats.

Thermally driven refrigeration and heating systems presently available on the market include absorption, adsorption, and ejector-compressor systems. These systems tend to be large and bulky, and require many hydraulic loops and auxiliary components, resulting in systems that require significant amounts of energy to effectively change the temperature of a space.

For example, an absorption refrigeration system utilizes a gas-liquid mixture which forms a solution due to the strong affinity between the two fluids; the gas-rich solution is then pumped to a high-pressure zone, where the mixture is heated by a generator. Vapors of refrigerant generated in this pressurized heating process are sent towards the traditional refrigeration cycle of condenser, expansion valve and evaporator, wherein the temperature is reduced by the evaporation of refrigerant in the evaporator, at low pressures. The now gas-poor solution turns over in the absorber by passing through a pressure-relief valve, and absorbs the vapors of refrigerant, allowing the cycle to begin again. The system requires multiple auxiliary components to handle its hydraulic design, and high electrical demands to handle the pressurized portions of the system.

The adsorption system operates on the principle of physical adsorption between the refrigerant and an adsorbent (liquid or solid). The molecules of the refrigerant come to be fixed at the surface of the adsorbent via van der Waals forces. The system generally consists of a generator, a condenser, a pressure-relief valve and an evaporator. Adsorption systems are limited, however, due to the weak mass and heat transfer characteristics of the adsorbent beds. Specifically, the adsorbents, such as activated carbon, zeolite or silica gel, have low thermal conductivities and poor porosity characteristics. Consequently, the system typically has a bulky collector/generator/adsorber component which requires excessive heating capacity, leading to a rather low thermal coefficient of performance (COP).

Ejector-compressor systems have become a topic of interest for research in recent years, because they are heat-operated by low grade energy sources such as solar energy and industrial waste heat. These systems can be satisfactorily operated at generator temperatures as low as 65° C. However, similar to the absorption system, they require many hydraulic loops and high auxiliary electricity loads.

The present invention relates to a unique use of enthalpy change of solution for cooling/refrigeration and heating applications, using liquid binary mixtures as the working fluid (refrigerant/heater). The system has a simple hydraulic design, and a low electrical demand to operate its recirculation pumps.

Using these liquid binary mixtures, when a solute is mixed in a solvent resulting in a positive enthalpy change, the mixing is described as endothermic, while a negative enthalpy change signifies exothermic mixing. In endothermic reactions, the solution absorbs energy in the form of heat from the surroundings, lowering the temperature of the surrounding area. For example, instant ice packs use an endothermic reaction of ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) in water to achieve rapid cool temperatures (ΔH_(sol)=+25.7 kJ/mol). In exothermic reactions, when the enthalpy change is negative, the solution ejects heat to the surroundings, raising the temperature of the surrounding area. For example, instant hot packs use an exothermic reaction of magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) in water, resulting in an enthalpy change of ΔH_(sol)=−1,278.12 kJ/mol. These two examples of exothermic and endothermic reactions within a mixture are one-time use devices.

The present invention takes advantage of the endothermic and/or exothermic reactions of certain solute/solvent combinations to modify the temperature of a space, using a continuously operating device by repeating the process of mixing and separating the solute and the solvent, allowing the reactions to continue without having to replace the solute or the solvent.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Refrigeration and/or heating systems of the present invention include (i) a binary mixture of a solute and a solvent which acts as a coolant or heating medium, (ii) a cooling or heating heat exchanger, with mixture storage capacity, (iii) a fractionator/evaporator column, (iv) a condenser, (v) one or more heat recovery heat exchangers, and (vi) heat input from one or more heat sources. Pumps are used throughout the system to move solute, solvent, and a binary mixture thereof, through the system, as hereinafter described.

The design of the system may vary based upon whether the system is intended to heat or cool the environment, or both; however, the simplicity of the design and the lack of a pressurized loop allow for simple environmental control units, and efficient overall heating or cooling systems. Integral to the design of the system is the selection of the solute and the solvent, which should be selected (1) to generate an effective enthalpy change in solution when mixed, and (2) with different boiling points, so that the solvent and solute may be easily separated for re-use.

The present invention also includes a method for changing the temperature of a liquid within an air handler, by providing a mixing heat exchanger and a coil supported within the central compartment of each of the mixing heat exchanger and the air handler. Liquid cycled through the coils is cooled or heated in the mixing heat exchanger when a solute is mixed with a solvent in the heat exchanger. As with the system of the present invention, the solute and the solvent are selected to produce either an exothermic or an endothermic reaction when mixed. After the heat exchange from the mixture of the solute and the solvent in the mixing heat exchanger dissipates, the solute/solvent mixture is removed from the mixing heat exchanger, and the solute is separated from the solvent for use in another cycle of the method of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the system of the present invention, used for cooling an environment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the system of the present invention, used for heating an environment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the system of the present invention, used for selectively cooling and/or heating an environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention of the present system (shown in FIG. 1) the system is designed to provide cool air to an environment, in another embodiment of the invention (shown in FIG. 2) the system is designed to provide warm air to an environment, and in yet a third embodiment of the invention (shown in FIG. 3) the system is designed to selectively provide cool or warm air to an environment.

As hereinabove described and shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the system of the present invention generally includes, in a closed fluid-flow circuit, a mixing heat exchanger 2, a heat recovery unit 4, a fractionator/evaporator column 5, and a condenser 6. A liquid loop 40 is coupled with both the mixing heat exchanger 2 and an air handler 9, to provide warm or cool supply air. When the system is used to heat an environment, the condenser 6 is incorporated within the air handler 9; when the system is used for cooling, the condenser 6 is placed apart from the air handler 9; and when the system is used as a heat pump, to selectively supply warm and cold air, one condenser 6-2 is placed in the air handler 9, and a second condenser 6-1 is placed apart from the air handler.

In the cooling embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the mixing heat exchanger 2 mixes the solvent (received from the heat fractionator/evaporator column 5) with the solute (pumped from the condenser 6) producing an endothermic demand, absorbing heat from the liquid in the liquid loop 40, resulting in a chilled liquid that is returned by means of the liquid loop 40 to the air handler 9. In this embodiment the solvent and solute are selected to produce the endothermic reaction of sufficient enthalpy change to chill the liquid in the liquid loop.

The used binary mixture is then pumped from the mixing heat exchanger 2 to the heat recovery unit 4, and to the fractionator/evaporator column 5. The fractionator/evaporator column is coupled with a heat source 8, providing heat to the column 5 at temperatures higher than the boiling point of the solute but lower than the boiling point of the solvent, to separate the solute from solution. The fractionator/evaporator column may be single stage or multiple stages to achieve a high degree of solute separation, producing a solvent-rich return mixture and a solute vapor; the heat source may be controlled by a control unit to maintain the fractionator/evaporator at the appropriate operating temperature in view of the specific solute and solvent binary mixture (s).

The solvent rich return mixture is then pumped back to the mixing heat exchanger 2 for storage or re-use, exchanging heat with used binary mixture across the heat recovery unit 4. Thereby the solvent rich mixture may be reused in the mixing heat exchanger. Meanwhile, the solute vapor flows to the condenser 6, where it condenses and then pumped to the mixing heat exchanger as needed. This cycle is repeated to provide a continuous chilled liquid to the air handler 9. When the system is idle, the solute may be stored in the condenser 6 until required for use by the mixing heat exchanger 2. In this arrangement the condenser 6 acts as a suction reservoir for the pump 1.

The heat source 8 may be waste heat, solar heat, electric heat, or fuel combustion heat. A fuel combustion source can be liquid fuels such as diesel, or gas such as natural gas. Each heating device is designed specifically for the heat source selected. If renewable energy is used, the heating source may combine the renewable source with an electric or fuel combustion unit.

The air handler 9, which generally includes a fan to move return air from the room or environment and supply air back into the room or environment, receives the chilled liquid in the liquid loop 40 from the mixing heat exchanger 2, which chilled liquid exchanges heat with the returned room air Al as the air passes over the loop, supplying cool air A2 back into the room. The liquid loop 40 may be coiled or otherwise structured within either or both of the mixing heat exchanger 2 and the air handler 9, to maximize the amount of liquid subjected to the solute/solvent reaction in the mixing heat exchanger, and the amount of chilled or heated liquid provided within the air handler; a pump 11 pumps liquid through the loop 40. In this embodiment the solvent and solute are selected to produce the endothermic reaction of sufficient enthalpy change to cool the liquid in the liquid loop.

The heating system shown in FIG. 2 is similar to the cooling embodiment of FIG. 1 and described above, except that the condenser 6 may be housed in the air handler 9 to cause heat recovered from the solute vapor during condensation in the condenser 6 to supplement heating of the return room air A1 in the air handler, resulting in warm air A2 being supplied back into the room. In this system and heating process, the mixing heat exchanger 2 mixes the solvent with the solute producing an exothermic reaction, expelling heat to the liquid in the liquid loop 40, resulting in a heated liquid that is returned by means of the liquid loop 40 to the air handler 9. The solvent and solute are selected to produce the exothermic reaction of sufficient enthalpy change to heat the liquid in the liquid loop.

Pumps 1, 3 and 7 are incorporated into the system to deliver solute from the condenser 6 to the mixing heat exchanger 2 (shown as pump 1); to deliver dissolved solute in solution from the mixing heat exchanger 2 to the heat recovery unit 4 (shown as pump 3); and to deliver the solvent-rich binary mixture from the fractionator/evaporator 5 to the heat recovery unit 4 and back to the mixing heat exchanger 2 (shown as pump 7). Pump 11 is used to circulate the liquid in the liquid loop 40.

For a heat pump as shown in FIG. 3, providing a selective heating and cooling system, the system may have one solvent and two solutes, wherein the solutes have different boiling points (at least 10° C. difference), and both are lower than the solvent boiling point by at least 10° C. This system includes two condensers 6-1, 6-2, one for each of the solutes, with one condenser 6-2 (intended to condense and store the solute intended for the heating system) housed in the air handler 9. The system further comprises two control valves 100 to direct the right solute to and from the condenser 6, depending on whether a cooling or a heating operation is selected, and two pumps 1C, 1H, each being associated with a condenser to deliver solute to the mixing heat exchanger 2.

The operation of the system of the present invention may be coupled to a room thermostat, that will signal the pumps and the air handler fan to start or stop, depending on the actual and the desired temperature of the room, as measured and set at the thermostat.

Integral to design of the system of the present invention is the choice of solute(s) and solvent. The solute(s) and the solvent should be selected so that the solute has a lower boiling point than that of the solvent (at least 10° C., but above the normal practical operating temperature of the mixing heat exchanger 2); the greater the differences between the boiling point of the solute and that of the solvent(s) will allow them to be easily separated in the system of the present invention. Furthermore, the solute and solvent should be selected to have large positive or negative enthalpy change of solution. For heating this enthalpy change may be between −10 kJ/mol and −200 kJ/mol; for cooling this enthalpy change may be between 5 kJ/mol and 30 kJ/mol. Examples of solutes and solvents are provided in Table 1 for heating systems, and Table 2 for cooling systems.

TABLE 1 Examples of Binary Mixtures For Heating Application with Their Properties Mixing BP BP Δ_(sol)H Temperature Solute (° C.) Solvent (° C.) (kJ/mol) (° C.) ΔBP Titanium tetrachloride 136.4 Tributyl phosphate 289 −161 25 −152.6 Tin tetrachloride 205 Tributyl phosphate 289 −130 25 −84 Bromine 58.8 Phosphorus sulfochloride 125 −99 25 −66.2 Titanium tetrachloride 136.4 s- octyl acetate 211 −97.1 23 −74.6 Piperidine (39.3) 106 Allyl isothiocynate 148 −92.1 17 −42 Butyl formate 106 Titanium tetrachloride 136.4 −55.7 23 −30.4 i- Amyl formate 125 Titanium tetrachloride 136.4 −54.8 23 −11.4 Ethyl formate 54 Tin tetrachloride 205 −38.1 17 −151 Ethyl acetate (35.2) 77.1 Tin tetrachloride 205 −34.1 17 −127.9 Arsenic trichloride 130.2 Dimethyl sulfoxide 189 −33.6 25 −58.8 i-Butyl acetate 126 Tin tetrabromide 205 −29.7 16 −79 Pyridine (40.2) 115.2 Propionic acid 141 −26.3 25 −25.8 Water 100 Triethylene glycol (79.2) 288 −21.3 25 −188 Ethylacetate (35.2) 77.1 Tin tetrabromide 205 −26 17 −127.9 Ethylene glycol dimethyl ether 85 Water 100 −23.4 25 −15 Butylamine (32.6) 77 Water 100 −19.1 25 −23

TABLE 2 Examples of Binary Mixtures For Cooling Applications with Their Properties Mixing BP BP Δ_(sol)H Temperature Solute (° C.) Solvent (° C.) (kJ/mol) (° C.) ΔBP Water (44.0) 100 Amyl acetate 149 11.4 25 −49 Water (44.0) 200 Butyl acetate 117 10.2 25 −17 Nitroethane (41.6) 114 Cyclohexane 80.74 10.5 25 33.26 Thiazole 117 Cyclohexane 80.74 10.5 25 36.26 Cyclopentanol (57.8) 139 Cyclohexane 80.74 19.5 25 58.26 i-Propyl alcohol (45.6) 82.5 i-Octane 99 22 25 −16.5 Perfluoro-n-heptane (36.4) 83 i-Octane 99 11.3 25 −16 Ethyl alcohol (42.6) 78.37 Nonane 150 25.1 30 −71.63 Acetone (30.8) 56 Cyclohexane 80.74 10.3 20 −24.74 Ethyl alcohol (42.6) 78.37 Heptane 98.42 25.1 30 −20.05 N,N-Diethylformamide 177.6 Cyclohexane 80.74 11.5 25 96.86 N,N-Dimethylacetamide 165 Cyclohexane 80.74 12.7 25 84.26 N,N-Dimethylpropionamide 175 Cyclohexane 80.74 11.5 25 94.26 N-Methylpyrrolidone 204.3 Cyclohexane 80.74 10.9 25 123.56 Propyl alcohol (47.5) 97 Dodecane 214 24.5 30 −117 Hexane (31.6) 67 Furfural 162 10 27 −95 Acetone (30.8) 56 Hexadecane 271 10.5 25 −215 Heptane (36.6) 98.42 N,N-Dimethylformamide 153 11.3 25 −54.58 Methyl alcohol (37.4) 65 Benzene 80.1 14.6 25 −15.1 Ethyl alcohol (42.6) 78.37 Bromobenzene 156 16.7 25 −77.63 Methyl alcohol (37.4) 65 Carbon tetrachloride 76.72 18.7 20 −11.72 Ethyl alcohol (42.6) 78.37 Dichloroethyl ether 178.2 10 25 −99.83 Octane (41.5) 125 Dichloroethyl ether 178.2 10.5 25 −53.2 Propyl alcohol (47.5) 97 Dichloroethyl ether 178.2 11.3 25 −81.2 Butyl alcohol (52.3) 118 Ethylbenzene 136 16.7 25 −18 i-Propyl alcohol (45.6) 82.5 Ethylbenzene 136 17.6 25 −53.5 Propyl alcohol (47.5) 97 Ethylbenzene 136 14.6 25 −39 t-Butyl alcohol (47.7) 82 Heptane 98.42 27.3 30 −16.42 t-Butyl alcohol (47.7) 82 Hexadecane 271 15.7 30 −189 t-Butyl alcohol (47.7) 82 i-Octane 99 23.8 30 −17 i-Propyl alcohol (45.6) 82.5 Toluene 110.6 18 25 −28.1 Methyl alcohol (37.4) 65 Toluene 110.6 13.2 25 −45.6 

1. A thermally driven, environmental control unit comprising: in a closed fluid-flow, non-pressurized circuit, a mixing heat exchanger, a heat recovery unit, a fractionator/evaporator column, and one or more condensers; at least one solute and a solvent, selected so that the mixture of each solute and the solvent produce an enthalpy change of between about −200 kJ/mol to 30 kJ/mol; a plurality of pumps; a liquid loop coupled with the mixing heat exchanger and an air handler to provide warm or cool supply air.
 2. The thermally driven, environmental control unit of claim 1, wherein the solutes and solvent are selected so that the respective boiling point of each solute is at least 10° C. lower than the boiling point of the solvent.
 3. The thermally driven, environmental control unit of claim 2, wherein one of the one or more condensers is incorporated within the air handler.
 4. The thermally driven, environmental control unit of claim 2, wherein a first pump of the plurality of pumps is in circuit between the mixing heat exchanger and the condenser; a second pump is in circuit between the mixing heat exchanger and the heat recovery unit to the fractionator/evaporator column; and a third pump is in circuit between the fractionator/evaporator column and the mixing heat exchanger.
 5. The thermally driven, environmental control unit of claim 2, wherein the fractionator/evaporator column is coupled with a heat source, providing heat to the column at temperatures higher than the boiling point of the solute but lower than the boiling point of the solvent.
 6. The thermally driven, environmental control unit of claim 5, wherein the heat source may be waste heat, solar heat, electric heat or fuel combustion heat.
 7. The thermally driven, environmental control unit of claim 6, wherein the heat source comprises a renewable energy source and a second heat source.
 8. A thermally driven, environmental control unit comprising: in a closed fluid-flow, non-pressurized circuit, a mixing heat exchanger, a heat recovery unit, a fractionator/evaporator, and two condensers; two solutes and a solvent, selected so that the mixture of the first solute and the solvent produce a cooling enthalpy change of between about 5 and 30 kJ/mol; and the mixture of the second solute and the solvent produce a heating enthalpy change of between about −10 and −200 kJ/mol; a plurality of pumps; a liquid loop coupled with the mixing heat exchanger and an air handler to provide warm or cool supply air; and two valves, to determine the flow of solute through the system.
 9. A method for changing the temperature of a liquid within an air handler, the method comprising the steps of: providing a mixing heat exchanger and a coil, which coil is supported within the central compartment of each of the mixing heat exchanger and the air handler; cycling a liquid through the coil; mixing a solute with a solvent in the mixing heat exchanger, wherein the solute and solvent are selected to produce either an exothermic or an endothermic reaction when mixed; separating the solute and the solvent, and supplying each of the separated solute and solvent to the mixing heat exchanger.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the solute and solvent are further selected so that the respective boiling point of the solute is at least 10° C. lower than the boiling point of the solvent.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the solute and the solvent are selected to produce an endothermic reaction of at least 7° C.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the mixing of the solute and the solvent in the mixing heat exchanger produces an exothermic reaction; and the method further comprises the step of mixing another solute with the solvent in the mixing heat exchanger, wherein this solute is selected to produce an endothermic reaction with the solvent, and wherein this mixing step alternates with the exothermic reaction mixing step.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the solutes and solvent are selected so that the respective boiling point of each solute is at least 10° C. lower than the boiling point of the solvent.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the separating of the solute and the solvent is performed in a fractionator/evaporator coupled with a heat source, providing heat at temperatures higher than the boiling point of the solute but lower than the boiling point of the solvent.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the heat source may be waste heat, solar heat, electric heat or fuel combustion heat. 